Register Interest
Latest News
Having attended a consultation meeting on regulations on 27th Sept 2019, we are even more confident that the basics of everything that attendees referred to is already in place, and can easily be developed further. The CAWC Code seems widely acknowledged but the RCDTBP, founded in 2010 to hold the registers of Signatories to it, seems to have been a little lost in the ether.
In implementing the Code, the RCDTBP inclusively provides all individuals with a structured profile to register and build knowledge and experience, and together with the public feedback facility offered, it aims to help ensure every practitioner meets, and continually develops to meet, the professional demands of the industry.
The RCDTBP works on positivity, and our processes identify those for what they ‘put in’ to the industry, the profiling provides criteria to both recognise expertise and help all to develop.
RCDTBP Update November 2019
Important Downloads
Canine Services
Individual Signatories
Related Organisations
Code of Practice
Policy Document
The Registration Council has the responsibility to manage and hold the official register of Signatories to the CAWC Code of Practice
in regard to dogs. In doing so, it aims to unite all practitioners, service and course providers, related membership organisations
and charities; promote all efforts to advance animal welfare, and increase individual understanding of training, behaviour
and the canine-
© All content copyright of RCDTBP Community Interest Company
(Registered not-
Information for Practitioners
The Registration Council aims to develop a comprehensive and united network of practitioners to help ensure dog owners, handlers and enthusiasts receive the most appropriate service for their individual dog training and or behaviour needs.
The Council offers practitioners, students and interested parties the opportunity to:
1. register their personal commitment to the professional standards of service set by the Code, uniting to support voluntary self-
2. register their Dog Training / Behaviour / Canine Service(s) as appropriate to the search section(s) provided for public and professional referral
3. access unbiased impartial guidance on the standards set by the Code as applied to all aspects of their dog training and or behaviour service
4. access further information on routes to expand knowledge of dogs, training and or behaviour, and or to enhance skills of teaching dogs and people
See below for more information:
Registration Details, Fees, Regulation, Professional Development
Why register?
In this day and age, it is taken for granted that all professionals are appropriately qualified and experienced, shown by the fact that your clients rarely ask. When was the last time you checked whether your doctor, dentist or car mechanic was qualified? Not being asked does not mean you do not need to be qualified … you actually owe it to your clients to show you have sufficient knowledge and skill for the service you are offering. At the very least, you should be bound by a Code of Practice or have some sort of customer charter, preferably through registration with an appropriate governing organisation which can give you guidance, support and help to monitor the standards of service received.
The field of dog training and behaviour advice has been in a transition phase over the last decade or two. Voluntary club services are slowly disappearing with the increase of businesses offering group socialisation or training sessions and or 1:1 personal training and behaviour services, for much higher fees, as people attempt to make a living from it. Virtually everyone now agrees that some form of regulation should be in place, as those who have run a great service for dog owners over the years and have a great deal of experience feel they have earned the right to continue to practice without formal study. The growth in courses and people studying behaviour at higher academic levels, support dividing behaviour modification from training as a separate profession … but the arguments continue.
Dog training clubs traditionally and routinely dealt with not just dog training but most of the problem behaviours too. The service received varied considerably, depending on the personal interests of the instructors, the majority coming from either a competitive, sport or service dog background. Pet / companion dog training services have changed so much over time, moving away from basic obedience to a real life-
The good news is that methods have changed with more emphasis on motivation and rewards as scientific principles have slowly improved our understanding, yet the not-
Dogs live with people and science supports the relationship side of this unique bond, but emphasis through socialisation seems, to the average owner, to be about their dogs ability to relate to and even accept play with every other dog. All practitioners have a huge educational role to put all this into perspective; dog owners need to become ambassadors for and with dogs, to improve respect for, and the role of, dogs in society; all need to play their part in reducing any fear of dogs and anti-
Voluntary self-
1. It is time for all practitioners to unite by registering on one all-
2. The public must not be subject to misleading advertising and personal claims. A system must be put in place to identify levels of practitioner experience, skill and understanding, and a further system to ensure that each practitioner is working within the scope of their personal competence and actually delivering appropriate services.
3. Professional understanding needs to keep up with the times albeit advanced by science or legal ruling. All practitioners should have open access to the latest information.
4. Courses and qualifications should be listed for all who wish to gain formal recognition of skill or knowledge; and or who wish to understand the standards set by each.
5. The industry is currently fragmented, argumentative and confusing with many groups being formed over the last two decades. It is time for each to help form a united network, whilst keeping their own unique identity and being promoted for the good work they do.
The RCDTBP is the only truly inclusive organisation to fulfil all the roles above.
Registration of Signatories
The CAWC Code sets out the minimum professional standards for all those providing a dog training and or behaviour service. The RCDTBP aims to give supporting unbiased guidance on all aspects of the Code and professional practice, essential for those giving advice to others. All who sign up to the Code are expected to carry out their work with integrity, accepting their professional responsibilities to the public, clients, colleagues, the industry and the register, whilst prioritising legal and ethical values to animal welfare and client care. The Council inclusively accepts all in good standing be they experienced Practitioners, trainees, assistants and /or students.
Requirements for registering as a Signatory:
- Application with payment of an initial registration fee (valid for three years) currently discounted to £25 for those joining during stage one
- Confirm understanding of their commitment to the standards set by the CAWC Code and of RCDTBP rules and regulations
- Create a personal account to build and maintain a professional profile of knowledge, experience & involvements
NB Fees in stage two:
a. Initial registration fee (valid three years): £50 or £35 if as c) *below
b. Renewal Fees (if continuous and with confirmation of CPD): £25 for a further three years, or £15 if as c) *below
c.*with a Registered Service Provider and or member of an Affiliated Professional Body
All Signatories will be listed individually on the register by name and location. Individuals will be permitted to use the logo alongside the following statement: ‘(full name) is a Registered Signatory to the CAWC Code of Practice’. When used on websites a direct link must be provided to the RCDTBP ‘public information’ page. Please note that neither the logo nor the statement may be used on its own, nor used to imply a ‘qualification’.
Continued Professional Development (CPD)
Continued professional development is a requirement for all professions … and the field of dog training and or behaviour should be no different. Practitioners will be expected to confirm a minimum of 30 hours over three years to renewal as a chronological log of activities. This can include personal study, personal experiences which led to evidenced learning (eg injury, disease, new dog breeds), Internet research, books, courses, talks, seminars etc, or certificates of achievement in advancing personal skills and or knowledge.
Registration of Service Providers giving dog training and behaviour advice, be they Clubs or Businesses, groups or individuals,. Currently no fees apply. Service Providers will be listed on the Service Provider register, provided they:
- actively support national registration by ensuring all members of their ‘staff‘ (within one-
year of becoming involved) individually register as a RCDTBP Signatory, regardless of other memberships and affiliations - declare their understanding of the Code and of RCDTBP rules and regulations as a minimum, in a conjunction with their own rules and that of any other membership affiliations
- confirm that they have sufficient and appropriate insurance
- ensure that website(s) are, and advertising is, accurate and appropriate (guidance available)
- ensure practitioners, allocated to advise / work with clients, are appropriately trained and experienced
The ‘RCDTBP Service Provider’ logo may be used on websites alongside the statement ‘(Name of Service) is a Registered Service Provider committed to uphold the standards set by the CAWC Code of Practice’, with a direct link to the ‘Code’ and to the RCDTBP’s ‘public information’ page. Neither the logo nor the statement may be used to imply a ‘qualification’ nor to imply direct service support from the RCDTBP. Information should be provided to clients allowing them the opportunity to give constructive, helpful feedback on the standards of service received.
Course Providers, Membership Bodies, Related Organisations & Charities.
No fees apply. The RCDTBP is not a threat to any other organisation, it just aims to bring everyone together, to respectfully list all for the good work they do whilst appreciating each for their differences. As such, the RCDTBP offers ‘Affiliation’ to all confirming support for the nationally agreed minimum professional standards set by the Code, and it is hoped that all will encourage their practitioners, tutors, members and students to individually register with the RCDTBP as a Signatory.